MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia, which sacrificed some of its blitz verve in the aftermath of secondary injuries, is back to pressuring and gambling again. Opponents have noted this, and Tony Gibson believes that is why Texas Tech, Iowa State and Kansas didn’t take their typical deep shots against the Mountaineers.
“It’s weird,” Gibson said. “I think when they’re breaking us down (on film) they don’t think they’re going to have time because of the blitz.”
Thus, a fake blitz coaxed Iowa State into a turnover last Saturday: Joel Lanning was geared to throw quickly and did so, realizing too late that West Virginia had dropped eight into coverage.